S8 kenyaspecial MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010 CHINA DAILY

Nation open for cooperation in oil drilling, exploration and storage projects. Retail giant off ers Kenyans the best selection of local and international goods at reasonable prices. Open for business in every sector tions through the building of new on ’s agricultural-based demand and reduce the number of Investors encouraged to grasp Selest Kilinda, primary and secondary schools, as economy through droughts, fuel trucks on the country’s roads, MD of Kenya well as colleges and universities. fl oods, and mudslides that caused Kenya Pipeline Co enhanced its Pipeline wealth of new opportunities Company Ltd Through this ambitious drive havoc and stunted economic capacity by putting up four new to boost education facilities and growth. pump stations at Samburu, Man- standards, Kenya is making a fi rm Offi cials are seeking PPPs and yani, Makindu and Konza which Promising foreign direct invest- As the principal implementing commitment to the development foreign funding in environmental nearly doubled its fl ow rate from ment (FDI) opportunities can be agency of the government’s hous- of a knowledge-based economy monitoring and early warning 440,000 liters per hour to 800,000 found right throughout Kenya’s ing policy, NHC has put in place that will prepare its young people system technologies, as well as liters per hour. diverse economy and range of a program of measures aimed at for today’s competitive global education, training and awareness Other major projects now being business sectors, manufactur- facilitating the acquisition of land environment. programs, waste management undertaken include the extension ing industries and commercial and the subsequent construction Kenya and neighboring coun- “We need to construct more programs, and pest control. of the oil pipeline to and services. and sale of new residential devel- tries like , Uganda, and schools and universities, and As a major trade and transit construction of liquefied petro- Th e government has identifi ed opments. . expand and rehabilitate exist- hub for East Africa, Kenya plays leum gas import handling and the private sector and foreign Th e corporation has developed “We are planning to expand ing ones,” said Kenyan President a very important role in the trans- storage facilities, as a joint venture investors as crucial to the achieve- countless projects since it was to all fi ve countries in southeast Mwai Kibaki. portation of products to the wider with Kenya Petroleum Refi neries ment of Vision 2030’s economic established 43 years ago, and is Africa and are already present in “There is high demand for region, including various land- and India’s Bharat Petroleum. and social goals as Kenya looks to particularly keen to hear from Rwanda and Uganda, as well as university education and the locked countries such as Uganda, A 325 km parallel pipeline gain middle-income status and set Chinese investors and construc- being the largest retailer in Kenya,” construction of private secondary Ethiopia, Rwanda, and . from to Eldoret is cur- the benchmark for other countries tion companies as it looks to says Nakumatt managing director, schools is encouraged and off ers Established in 1973 as a state rently being built by the China in East Africa and beyond. develop land in cities and towns . excellent opportunities for inves- corporation run under the Minis- Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Expanding the provision of across the country. “We are looking for equity part- tors in this sector.” try of Energy, Kenya Pipeline Co Corp. On completion this project housing and accommodation is With more than 20 branches ners to help us achieve our growth will boost the supply of petroleum one of the Vision 2030’s key goals across the country, retail goods plan. By 2015 we hope to have 50 products to western Kenya and as ministers look to fulfill their giant Nakumatt Holdings Ltd is or more stores spread across six or “Our vision is to be a top notch, world-class beyond. pledge of building 200,000 new leading the stampede towards seven countries including Burun- petroleum products distribution, handling, Kilinda sees his company play- homes per year over the next two higher living standards in Kenya di, Ethiopia and Sudan.” ing a strategic role in the region’s decades. As demand for housing and is well positioned to cash in on China is playing a key role in the storage, and supply network in this region development especially as the reaches a record high — especially the growing middle class market. retailer’s strategic development as and particularly in Kenya. Our relationship recent discovery of oil fields in in the main urban areas of Nairobi As Kenya works hard to boost Chinese manufacturers have a with China is going to grow as the Chinese neighboring Uganda could result and Mombasa — the country’s its socioeconomic status, dispos- large presence in the enterprise’s are extremely professional and dedicated.” in a new refi nery being built that building and construction indus- able income levels are rising rap- international supply chain. would require the construction of ‘‘ SELEST KILINDA try is braced for one of the busiest idly, with the ripple eff ect seeing “A third of our products are new pipelines in Kenya. periods in its history. increasing numbers of Kenyans imported and 80 percent of them MD OF KENYA PIPELINE CO LTD He says the fi rm is open to stra- With the government seeing its buying their own homes and come from China so the Chinese tegic partnerships as it holds an role as a facilitator, the vast major- household goods. are big suppliers to Nakumatt and advantage on “way leaves” (rights ity of new homes will be developed With a focus on quality, value, they are playing an important part of way) for developing new infra- through private sector investment. service, variety and lifestyle, in our growth. I visit China every These developments will be Ltd operates a modern, secure, structure. Investors and developers are being Nakumatt Holdings Ltd’s stores two years to look for new ideas supported by a network of cen- and effi cient pipeline system for “Any investor who teams up encouraged to join forces with the off er a wide variety of local and and goods as they make good ters of excellence that focus on the transportation of refined with us will find us an ideal National Housing Corp (NHC) international brands at reason- quality products at reasonable the hospitality, agriculture, trade, petroleum products from Mom- partner. We are in a very strong — a State-owned organization able prices. prices,” said Atul Shah. manufacturing, fi nancial services, basa to Nairobi, the western towns position to continue dominating that aims to ensure the efficient The company operates more Construction opportunities can engineering, and information of Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret the transportation, storage and provision of adequate and aff ord- than two dozen outlets and plans also be found in the education sec- and communications technology and the neighboring countries of distribution of oil in the region.” able housing and housing-related to increase that number through tor as the government looks to lay (ICT) sectors. Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanza- According to Kilinda, Chinese services. the opening of new stores in the foundations for future genera- A series of major improvements nia and the Democratic Republic technology and experience will to old training and technical facili- of Congo. form an important part of this ties is also planned, especially at In collaboration with the gov- expansion plan. “Our relationship the Kenya Textile Training Insti- ernment, the forward-thinking with China is going to grow. Th e tute, the National Industrial and company is the lead institution Chinese are extremely profes- Vocational Training Center, and for the transportation, distribu- sional and we admire their work industrial training centers at tion and storage of petroleum ethic and dedication,” he says. Kisumu and Mombasa. products. From its base in Nairobi, “We strongly feel they are the While not as richly endowed in Kenya Pipeline Co’s highly skilled right people to work with and we natural resources as other African and experienced workforce coor- know they have existing facilities nations, Kenya’s range of minerals dinates projects nationwide. for fi nancing projects.” includes ash, barite, lead, nickel, The company’s facilities and In a fi nal message to potential and chromite. operations include over 900 km investors, Kilinda adds: “There A comprehensive mining of pipeline, ancillary pumping, is a lot of Chinese investment in policy targets investors through storage tanks, plant equipment Kenya because the returns are the formation of joint ventures and installations. good and our doors are open for and public private partnerships Led by managing director Selest more partnerships. Th e enhance- (PPPs). FDI opportunities exist Kilinda since August 2009, Kenya ment of our pipeline is an example in mineral exploitation and pros- Pipeline Co provides the most of what good partnership can pecting, traditional mining, and cost-eff ective transportation net- achieve.” value addition. work in East and Central Africa Meanwhile, with a fi rm commit- for refi ned petroleum products. ment to environmentally friendly “Our vision is to be a top notch, policies, Kenya runs sustainable world-class, petroleum products programs that protect its precious distribution, storage and supply land, wildlife and habitats. network in Kenya and beyond,” In the past decade, climate he says. change has had an adverse impact In order to meet growing